Comments and tributes will follow from others, including Mayor-elect Ted Becker; Delaware Speaker of the House Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach; and Sen. Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes; and Rep. Steve Smyk, R-Milton. Tony Pratt, a former Lewes city councilman who served with Ford, will also speak.

The public is invited to gather at Lewes Canalfront Park by 1:45 p.m. where the Shockley Brothers will be performing. The appreciation event will begin at 2:15 p.m.

“We are encouraging everyone to show up wearing Mayor Ford’s favorite garb - a Hawaiian shirt and flip-flops,” said event committee member Dennis Forney.

The mayor will also be presented a tribute book with certificates from vari­ous organizations, and a plaque will be mounted in his honor on the Net House at Lewes Canalfront Park.

Bottled water, Hawaiian leis and an event program will be given to at­tendees, who should bring their own blankets, umbrellas and folding chairs.

In the case of bad weather, the event will be moved to the auditorium of the Lewes School (former Lewes High School) on Savannah Road, also from 2 to 4 p.m.

The appreciation event is being sponsored by a committee formed by the Greater Lewes Foundation.

For more information, call 302-644-0107.

In one of his last official appearances May 14 Mayor Jim Ford received a check for the City of Lewes from Friends of Canalfront Park May 14. Stephanie Boright, chair of the Friends Board, presented the check for $10,000, which goes directly into improvements to the city park, She said “This gift to the city reflects donations from hundreds of individuals and businesses who love and enjoy this beautiful, vibrant park.”The funds have paid for tables and chairs on the formerly empty Overlook Deck of the park and to replant the landscaping beds. Ford expressed his appreciation to the group for donating funds for projects to enhance the park which would not be possible from a municipal budget. Shown at the check presentation are back row (l-r) Councilman Fred Beaufait,Mayor-elect Ted Becker, City Manager Paul Eckrich, FCP Chair Stephanie Boright, Greater Lewes Foundation's John Schroeder, FCP board members Matt Carter and Bob Hyberg, Mayor Jim Ford, City Projects Officer Carol Richardson, FCP board member Maureen Botti Eschbach and Lewes Counclman Dennis Reardon. Seated are Pres Lee, from Parks and Recreation Committee and FCP board, Councilwoman Bonnie Osler, FCP board member Georgia Tugend and City Financial Officer Ellen Lorraine McCabe.